Worst first day of school ever.
Weather-wise, that is. Emotionally, everyone was up for it, but..oh the rain!
I had the best of intentions – I wanted to take my camera to Joseph’s school and snap him in front of his classroom because this is the first year he’s worn a uniform, and oh, he looks sharp! Nothing like children in uniforms on the first day of school. On the last day of school – after months of “tuck your shirt in” “do you have a belt?” and “what color are your socks?” everyone feels differently, including teachers, but the first day in a school uniform expresses everything that first day stands for in general: a fresh start and going forward.

But people, it was pouring. And even if I’d remembered my camera, I probably would have dropped it in one of the rivers of water I had to cross. And the worst of it – the buckets – were reserved for those fifteen minutes of drop-off time. And of course on the first day, with a first grader, you can’t drop off, because neither of you are sure where the classroom is, he’s loaded down, not only with his backpack, but also with the required classroom stock of paper towels and tissues. This school is not graced with extensive parking, so after circling a few times, I finally admitted defeat, parked where I could, which was not terribly close, got the umbrella, got Michael, ordered Joseph to gather everything up and “jump!”
Actually, Joseph made it okay. Michael was the one who looks like he went swimming.
But, we can hope and pray that this doesn’t bode ill, but perhaps instead signifies that this year will be one in which wisdom showers down from the heavens on all involved. Maybe.
Katie, starting her sophomore year, was very cool about the whole thing. She didn’t sleep well last night, but got up without being called three times – in fact, without being called at all, got herself ready in plenty of time, and we had time to say a little prayer before they all went off.
Now. Après le déluge…..